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The federal government has dispatched a fresh wave of immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota, representing an escalation in its campaign and rhetoric against the region and its sizable immigrant populations.

Federal Surge Confirmed by DHS

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to root out fraud, arrest perpetrators and remove criminal illegal aliens”. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, told a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the largest immigration crackdown ever taking place right now”.

“We have the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Official

News accounts suggest the administration is sending another two thousand agents, from both ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, into the state for a one-month period. While Lyons did not verify that specific figure, he described it as a joint effort from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but acknowledged it had “surged law enforcement” presence.

The Crackdown Effort and Community Impact

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the agency's crackdown in the state has been underway since the start of last month. In reaction, local residents have pushed back against ICE, engaging in protests and attempting to block deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly avoided public life, forgoing trips to grocery stores or medical care due to apprehension of being detained.

The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is featured in a DHS video of an apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador wanted for murder in his nation of origin.

Broader Backdrop: Fraud Allegations and Rhetoric

This focus on Minnesota comes while the state is dealing with several high-profile cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have allegedly drawn the attention of former President Trump and led to xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. Notably, Minnesota is home to the biggest Somali population in the U.S., and the vast majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.

Lyons further stated that officers have been “conducting visits” to businesses allegedly hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He praised Secretary Noem for leading an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and framed the effort as fighting against local non-cooperation policies in places like Minnesota.

State Leadership Response

In a press conference, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “conflict that’s being fought against Minnesota”.

“I don’t think any government in history has had to battle against the federal government every single day. We are being attacked like no other time in our state’s history because of a petty, vile administration that doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's strong condemnation underscores the significant political rift between state and federal authorities over this escalating crackdown.